Cliff Lee Just Wants to Win

The best pitcher in the National League pissed a modicum of excellence last night in a 3-2 win– seven innings, two earned runs, three hits, six strikeouts, one walk and a pile of passive aggressive comments aimed at the Phillies’ front office.

Wait, what?!

Cliff Lee may have found his Curt Schilling card. No, not the Ace– the other one. He’s not happy… he just wants to win: [Phillies.com]

But can this team win as it is currently constituted? The offense and bullpen each are among the worst in baseball.

“I can’t look at it any other way, besides I expect us to win and catch up with the Braves and get into the postseason,” Lee said. “That’s the only way you can look at it.”

Does he want to stay if the team doesn’t turn things around?

“I definitely want to win,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that.”

But if it doesn’t turn around?

“I want to win,” he repeated. “I don’t know how else to say it besides that. I want to win.”

Nay, nay!!!!

My love just told me (s)he wants an open relationship. I don’t know how to take this. YES! Let’s explore, baby! Graze on some of that strange. Or: No… don’t you remember the good times? The walks in the park where we would laugh? That trip to New York in 2009? The time you gave up one run in five starts and peed on me and we filmed it?!

This is the first time, just about ever, that Lee has said anything other than I fucking love Philadelphia and never want to (wanted to) leave there. The circumstances, and the subject, are different, but you can’t help thinking that the stories about Cliff are starting to sound like the ones about Schilling in 2000. Just compare these articles from Jim Salisbury, then with the Inquirer, now with CSN Philly and the NBC family of corporate conglomerate sports networks and other assets.

The ultimate call in this drama belongs to Phillies general manager Ed Wade, who is quick to remind people that his vocal, 33-year-old ace has a ”no-trade clause,” not a ”trade-me clause.”

So what’s going to happen? Should the Phillies deal Schilling? Should they hang on to him?

There is no right answer, of course. But the topic is worth mulling as the July 31 trading deadline nears.

Why the Phils should deal Schilling: He will be 34 in November. He has had two shoulder operations. He could probably pitch, and pitch well, into his late 30s, but there’s no denying that he has carried a heavy load the last four years, and the reduced velocity on his fastball just might be a sign that it’s catching up with him.

Lee has a limited no-trade clause in which he can block deals to 20 teams, but no-trade clauses can be negotiated away. With his 35th birthday approaching, it’s difficult to imagine Lee blocking a deal that would send him to a team with a chance of winning a World Series.

Why the Phils should not deal Schilling: No. 1 starting pitchers are difficult to find. Look at the Indians, who desperately tried to get one for years and had to finally overpay aging Chuck Finley. The Phils have an excellent No. 1, and he’s a great bargain at $6.5 million next season. What happens if the Phils suddenly come together next season? Who’s going to be the ace? And where are the Phils going to get one that cheaply?

Lee, June, 2013:

That is if the Phillies decide to move him. There is a school of thought that they will hang on to him, cross their fingers for a second-half run and try to get it together with Lee and Cole Hamels at the top of the rotation next season.

Schilling, of course, was traded and went on to win three World Series in the decade.

As long as RAJ is running the show, I have zero confidence that he would get us anywhere near market value for Clifton. This team does need to get young, and they do need to replenish the farm so I cannot say that I am 100% opposed to trading Lee. I can, however, say that I am 1,000,000% opposed to RAJ having anything to do with putting together/approving the trade package.

I wouldn’t trade him. Look at what we got in return last time. Aumont isn’t setting the league on fire. That being said, they did keep kendrik (turning out to be a good move) and traded Happ (Good move) and Worley (Also looking good) so they haven’t been doing too bad. They players coming up have been good, they just have been trading them away the last few years at the deadline.

I heard he IS a big dick! Seriously , I am tired of Cliff Lee and his back and forth. He should have gone to the Yankees for all the good he has done us. Correct me if I am wrong, but was it not him who blew the 4-0 lead in the playoffs with the Cards in 2011 in a game that would have put us two up and changed the dynamic and momentum? And was it not him who, in the WS with the Rangers got bombed in two games? Cliff should just keep his mouth shut and count his money. Even if he does go back to the WS with another team, he can’t take the pressure obviously.

With the way Lee is pitching and the way the others aren’t, you almost have to keep him. Cole isn’t Cole, Lord knows what Doc will be when he comes back, Kendrick is OK and the others are just spot fillers. Lee is the most consistent pitcher here. Trading Lee and Papelbon spells DONE for the Phillies. The next 3-4yrs are gonna be real interesting.

Question for everyone: Do you ask Lee/Papelbon to restructure their contacts?

Come on Illini, how about cutting Bob a break?
The people who visit this site have varying degrees of knowledge and coming here is a good way for those non-experts to learn.
That being said, you are correct. If the Phillies came to Lee or Papelbon and asked them to restructure their contract they would tell the Phillies to fuck off. But at least now Bob knows that. No need to be condescending.

Accept that this team is in the middle of an inevitable decline and trade him for top AAA position prospects who can actually get on base and drive runners in (3B?). What’s the point of having one bonafide stud on your staff when your offense leaves 10+ runners on? Go young and bite the bullet to be mediocre for a few seasons. Hope Hamels gets his head out of his ass, that Kendrick can stay decent, and that Doc can actually pitch again someday. Plus Cliff is the fucking man and he deserves a shot to win on a team not run by Rubtard Amaro.

So wait…Cole Hamels gets mad (rightfully) every once in awhile because his tesm NEVER supports him, and he gets nailed to a cross as a whiney pre madonna…Cliff Lee, through passive aggressive comments that would make Donovan McNabb proud, implies that he doesnt wanna be here if the rest of the team sucks–and no one says a word…The fuck?